Roasted Spring Lamb With Fennel, Rhubarb, and Strawberries

Lamb’s pleasantly gamey flavor pairs beautifully with tart rhubarb, sweet strawberries, and anise-scented fennel. “Frenched” racks of lamb are trimmed so that the bones are cleaned of fat and meat; if you can’t find pre-frenched lamb racks, ask your butcher to french them for you. Look for big stalks of rhubarb at the market; they’ll hold their shape better than smaller ones, which can easily get too soft when cooked.

How to Make It

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Step 2

Combine stock, vinegar, 2 tablespoons sugar, half of the rhubarb, and half of the strawberries in a saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil over high. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 15 minutes. Pour mixture through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a bowl; discard solids. Reserve liquid.

Scatter fennel around lamb in a single layer. Transfer to preheated oven; roast until a thermometer inserted in thickest portion of lamb registers 130°F and fennel is caramelized and tender, about 20 minutes. Using tongs, transfer lamb to a cutting board; place fennel on a platter, and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Reserve 2 tablespoons pan juices in roasting pan; discard remaining pan juices.

Step 5

Add remaining rhubarb and strawberries to roasting pan; toss to coat. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar; arrange in a single layer. Roast at 400°F until just tender, 4 to 5 minutes. (Do not overcook.) Transfer to platter with fennel.